ANTARCTIC FISHERIES/CCAMLR MEETING ) UK DRESSED TO

UNCLAS LONDON 003940 SIPDIS SIPDIS COMMERCE FOR NOAA - INTERNATIONAL/LENT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV EFIS KGHG UK SUBJECT: ANTARCTIC FISHERIES/CCAMLR MEETING ) UK DRESSED TO KRILL REF: STATE 138243 ¶1. UK Foreign Office Polar Regions Unit Chief Jane Rumble met ESTH Counselor on October 11 to discuss October 22 ) November 2 meeting in Hobart of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) (reftel). Rumble said that the HMG supports the substance of USG proposals on bottom-fishing restrictions in the sea area of the CCAMLR but disagrees on tactics. Rumble said that the UK advocates a tactical approach of strengthening existing provisions under the Convention rather than creating a new provision, which she termed &putting all your eggs in one basket.& ¶2. An additional UK concern on the bottom-fishing issue, said Rumble, is the treatment of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around the UK,s South Georgia Island. The UK wants to exclude South Georgia,s EEZ from the area under CCAMLR jurisdiction. Other countries, such as France, South Africa and Australia, with territories in the CCAMLR area have similar concerns, Rumble said. CCAMLR ) More than a Fisheries Management Organization -------------- -------------- ¶3. On the Performance Review, Rumble said that the UK sees the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) as having wider responsibilities than a standard Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO). Rumble said that the Performance Review should take a long-term view of the entire Antarctic marine ecosystem, not just of the fisheries. She added that the UK and the European Commission would like to strengthen CCAMLR provisions related to krill management. UK research indicates that changes in Antarctic sea ice may virtually eliminate krill in certain key areas within thirty years, said Scott Parnell, Sustainable Fisheries Manager in the Polar Regions Unit, who participated in the meeting. UK Putting Climate Change on the Agenda -------------- ¶4. The UK intends to introduce a measure related to climate change on the agenda of the CCAMLR, and will do the same for the Antarctic Treaty, Rumble said. She gave no further description of their proposed measure. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm Tuttle